New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-07
GROWTH OF TWO NATYONlS

The British Jubilee seeks its Justification in
the figures which show British progress during
the past half-century. A better and grander
Justification was offered, it is true, by Mr.
Gladstone in his review Of Tcnnyson's "New
Locl1sley Hall his survey of the changes ef-
fected in British laws and customs in the So
cial and political condition of the British poo
pie, in the influence Of Great Britain through
out the world, and in the manly recognition
and facing Of hard social and economic prob =
lens which the England of fifty years ago
passed in contentcd blindness. A better, per-
haps was also given in Mr.. Citizens elaborate
demonstration that the conditions of British
laborng people had greatly improved within
fifty years. But the figures assembled by
- The London Economist arc not void Of In
tcrest or out of place. Nor in reading them. can
one fairly forget that American natural advan-
tages go far TO account for a more rapid
progress than England has known but rcithcr
can it be fairly forgotten that the progress a
this Nation has been incomplrably greater
than that Of any part Of the British dominion
The United Kingdom has increased in popu-
lation forty-six per cent in fifty years, while
the colonies and possessions have been so en-
larged that they include population seventy
two per cent greater than in 1897. But the
population Of the United States has increased
26O per cent. British trade has risen from $50
to $50 per capita, but this has been largely
because of the increasing dependence of Great
Britain upon foreign countries for food and
other neccssaries Of life, the result of policy
by which agriculture has been sorcly pros
te "a Nphethpy p,o
healthy and harmonious growth and uucr
National prosperity are not shown by the in
crease Of United States commerce from $14
per capita in 1886 to $21 per capita in 1886
British consumption Of cotton has increased
fourfold In fifty years, of iron sevenfed and
Of coal fvefold. These are significant figures
truly. But in this country the consumption
of cotton has increased from So to 1,2Co
million pounds: OF iron from less than 100000
TO more than 5000 900 tons, and OF anthra-
cite coal from 100000 TO more than
$1,000, 900 tons. British wealth, calculated
by the income tax, shows an increase OF 40
per cent in forty-two years in the gross annual
income, and the death duties in Great Britain
show an increase from Al to Isl million
pounds sterling from 1885 to 1888. But the
census of 1910 Indicated that the wealth OF
this country was less than four thousand mill
ions, and the census of 1880 showed that it
was at any computation more than fory-four
thousand millions.
British taxation Welded from drinks and to-
bacco $97, 800, 900 in 1886 and $130, 100000
in 1886 while other taxes bearing directly
upon population had decreased from $97,-
100000 TO $47, 100000. Undoubtedly the d.
rect taxation of the working people, except
ing through the consumption Of liquors and to-
bacco, has decreased remarkably in Great Brit
ain but the figures give no fair idea of the
enormous increase of other burdens which
though indirect in their operation, nevcrthe-
less fall most heavily upon the workers. The
revenue of the United States has increased from
$51, 600, 900 to 1887, 100000 or from So for
each inhabitant in 1886 to $5 50 in 1856.
But here also the increase in the taxation Of
Injuries OF voluntary consumption has been
great it was practically nothing fifty years
ago, and is now nearly 81 per capita.
American pride in the healthy and marvel
lousy rapid growth Of this country need not
be lessened by the reflection that it has been
to a considerable extent at the expense of
Great Britain. Our growth in population has
been largely swelled by migration from Eng
lard, Scotland and especially from Ireland
our growth in wealth has been vastly increased
by tho development of industries which have
lcsscned our dependence on British manu-
features. That the mother country has never
thelcss advanced so grsndly during the past
fifty years Is matter Of hearty congratulation